CMAQ, STP Funds and FTA Formula Funds

The PSRC is responsible for distributing federal highway and transit funds under the Surface Transportation Program (STP) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program. These funds are distributed approximately every two years through a project selection process.

STP funds are the most flexible of PSRC funds and can be used for a variety of transportation projects and programs. CMAQ funds are available for specific categories of transportation projects and programs that improve air quality. General purpose roadway projects are not eligible.

The PSRC is also responsible for coordinating the process to award Federal Transit Administration funds for transit-related projects serving the region’s three federal urbanized areas: Seattle-Tacoma-Everett, Bremerton, and Marysville. These funds are distributed approximately every two years through a project selection process.

FTA funds are programmed using a process coordinated by PSRC. It involves eligible public transportation operators and includes a regional competitive process for a portion of the funds. Responsibility for FTA-funded project development and prioritization is coordinated by designated FTA recipient(s) within each urbanized area (UZA), in cooperation with PSRC, as follows:

Seattle-Tacoma-Everett (STE) UZA: Metropolitan King County (Metro), Community Transit, City of Everett, Pierce Transit, Sound Transit (for their respective portions of the urbanized area), PSRC, and Washington State Department of Transportation.